Last Modified: Friday, November 30, 2012 at 12:23 p.m.

Vennie Leroy Keaton, 37, has been identified as a person of interest and authorities are searching for him
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Vennie Leroy Keaton, 37, has been identified as a person of interest, and his whereabouts are unknown, according to a news release from Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver and Centre Police Chief Kirk Blankenship.

The body of Melissa Leann Hudgins, 37, Cedar Bluff was found on the campus about 9 a.m. Wednesday. She was a contract employee at the college. It is believed she died Tuesday morning.

Keaton was last seen leaving campus in Hudgins’ vehicle on Tuesday. The vehicle was found abandoned on the side of the road in Tennessee about 3 p.m. Tuesday and was recovered by the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was taken back to Cherokee County and processed for evidence by forensic investigators with the Calhoun-Cleburne County Violent Crimes Task Force.

Following the college’s protocol, the campus on Cedar Bluff Road was closed Wednesday to students and most staff pending completion of the investigation.

Keaton is wanted in Cherokee County and Tennessee on theft-related charges.

Anyone with information about Keaton’s whereabouts is asked to call the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at 256-927-3365 or the Centre Police Department at 256-927-3661.

The investigation is ongoing and more details will be released, Shaver said.

<p>Authorities are looking for a man in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found Wednesday morning on the Cherokee campus of <a href="http://www.gadsdentimes.com/section/TOPIC0201/"><b>Gadsden State</b></a> Community College.</p><p>Vennie Leroy Keaton, 37, has been identified as a person of interest, and his whereabouts are unknown, according to a news release from Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver and Centre Police Chief Kirk Blankenship.</p><p>The body of Melissa Leann Hudgins, 37, Cedar Bluff was found on the campus about 9 a.m. Wednesday. She was a contract employee at the college. It is believed she died Tuesday morning.</p><p>Keaton was last seen leaving campus in Hudgins' vehicle on Tuesday. The vehicle was found abandoned on the side of the road in Tennessee about 3 p.m. Tuesday and was recovered by the Sequatchie County Sheriff's Office. The vehicle was taken back to Cherokee County and processed for evidence by forensic investigators with the Calhoun-Cleburne County Violent Crimes Task Force.</p><p>Following the college's protocol, the campus on Cedar Bluff Road was closed Wednesday to students and most staff pending completion of the investigation.</p><p>Keaton is wanted in Cherokee County and Tennessee on theft-related charges.</p><p>Anyone with information about Keaton's whereabouts is asked to call the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office at 256-927-3365 or the Centre Police Department at 256-927-3661. </p><p>The investigation is ongoing and more details will be released, Shaver said.</p>